A BUBBLING CAULDRON

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Foley Tops DP 103

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR FOLEY The Daily Pilot - our newspaper of record for more than a century - announced it's DP 103 list of those felt were news makers and influenced events in the community this afternoon in an online article. Costa Mesa councilwoman Katrina Foley, who was elected again to the council last month after four years on the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Trustees, was chosen to top the list. In the election she was the highest vote-getter by far, as she out-paced incumbent Mayor Jim Righeimer, who barely held onto his seat by defeating another former council member, Jay Humhprey, by 47 votes. Righeimer was named #5, behind new Mayor Steve Mensinger. Humphrey was selected #41. You can read the article HERE.

GAZSI ON THE LIST AGAIN Last year's #1, Costa Mesa Police Chief Tom Gazsi, was on this list, too - at #12. He made it despite recently retiring and moving to a brand new position of Deputy Chief of Operations for the Los Angeles Port Police Department.

SOME CONTROVERSY ASSURED
This list will certainly generate some controversy - that's part of the fun, after all. I won't re-hash every person listed. Most are movers and shakers, political and otherwise, sprinkled with a few of us moved and shaken, too.

A SAMPLING...
A few entries that I found very interesting for different reasons:

30 - Robin Leffler - President of Costa Mesans For Responsible Government (CM4RG).
42 - Rob Dimel - Costa Mesa Police Officer, former A.B.L.E. helicopter pilot and President of the Costa Mesa Police Officers Association, which is being sued by Righeimer and Mensinger.
43 - Harold Weitzberg - He lost the endorsement of CM4RG in his run for City Council, so jumped ship and campaigned for candidate Chris Bunyan, who finished dead last in the race. Weitzberg is a vocal advocate for Medical Marijuana sales in Costa Mesa.
52 - Mike Scheafer - Who was recognized, once again, for his work on the Costa Mesa Sanitary District and his body of volunteerism for most of his adult life.
61 - Dave Ellis - He managed to get his slate of candidates elected to the Newport Beach City Council but failed in his own race for a seat on the water district.
71 - Anna Vrska - This tenacious, tireless activist continues to dig into controversial issues in Costa Mesa, making public records requests to seek the truth on issues like the 60th Anniversary Celebration and city legal fees.74 - Jim Fitzpatrick - I loved the note on his selection: "The Costa Mesa Planning Commission chairman approved development throughout the city and served as an activist in support of the council majority." Yep, that's about the kindest way to put it.
83 - Diane Hill - She works tirelessly to produce her United Neighbors electronic newsletter, which provides a wealth of timely and useful information to her subscribers.
84 - Cindy Black - She's on the job, working to protect Costa Mesa's natural assets, like Fairview Park.
88 - Greg Ridge - A Democrat activist who involves himself in issues beyond partisan politics. 89 - Vince Finaldi and John Manley - Righeimer and Mensinger's lawyers! I thought their placement on the list was curious.
94 - Dane Bora and Brad Long - Among my favorite selections on the list. These true professionals stay focused on the job at hand - providing excellent, award-winning video coverage of most Costa Mesa meetings and other events.
103 - The Newport Beach Civic Center Bunnies - I chuckled when I saw this choice because of the controversy that has swirled around them since the new Civic Center complex was opened.

YEAH, I'M THERE AGAIN, TOO Oh, yes - I'm on the list again, at #31, just below Leffler. I'm always grateful to the editors and staff of the Daily Pilot when they include me on the list, regardless where I fall in the roster. I'm down a few notches this year - those darn politicians just clog up the top slots! My presence on the list will drive a few folks in town slightly nuts, but I guess the Daily Pilot staff thought the thousands of visitors to my blog each month and the millions of pages views that have accumulated since I launched this particular site represent value to the community. Or, maybe they just think I'm a nice fella... Whatever the reason, I'm grateful - again.

CARLSON'S MEMORY STANDS ALONE I was very pleased to see a companion piece to this article honoring the memory of Newport Beach Lifeguard Ben Carlson, HERE, who lost his life this year while attempting to save a swimmer in distress. Some think he should have been included on the list, but the list is for the living. The article by Alicia Lopez is a fitting, appropriate tribute to Carlson.

105 PLUS...So, there you have it. 105 persons (I don't know how to calculate the Yang family) and a bunch of ceramic bunnies that represent the 2014 Daily Pilot DP 103 list. Thanks to the editors and staff for this exercise, and for publishing it on Christmas Eve so we can enjoy it as we open our presents tomorrow morning.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Merry Christmas To You All

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR....
It's time to turn the old cauldron down to simmer again so my sweet and very patient wife and I can join you all in celebrating this holiday season. Enjoy the photo of my neighbor, Sharon's, tree... thousands of lights and ornaments.

....FOR PEACE AND GOODWILL
It's been a very interesting year, to say the very least. I doubt there has ever been a need for more "peace on earth, goodwill to men" in Costa Mesa than right now, today.

THANK YOU... Thanks to all of you who try to make our city a better place. Your efforts are very much appreciated. I'd list you all here, but that would exceed the limits of the storage on this site. And thanks to the thousands of you who read these pages each month. I know some of you don't agree with me, but that's OK... You're still welcome here.

WATCH FOR THE DP 103 And, before we close for now, keep your eyes peeled for the Daily Pilot DP 103, which is scheduled to be published on Friday. It's always an adventure and fun to see which of our neighbors make the list - and which do not. Last year Chief Tom Gazsi was, appropriately, listed in the top spot. He's moved on to an exciting new assignment so I have no idea who will lead the pack this year - it sure won't be me!

AND, IN THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON...As has become a kind of tradition here, I present to you for your listening pleasure, one of my favorite Christmas parodies - the remarkable Stan Freberg's Green Christmas. Yeah, you have your Bing Crosby's White Christmas and Johnny Mathis singing Silent Night, but nothing says Christmas to me like old Stan.

AND THERE'S FOOTBALL, TOO!We'll be back sometime soon. So, a Very Merry Christmas to you all and a Very Happy New Year. Go Ducks - win two!

Sunday, December 21, 2014

A Sad Anniversary Slipped Past Me

ELEVEN YEARS SINCE HE LEFT US...
Each year since 2003 I've marked December 19 with a remembrance of my best friend of 57 years, Larry Moore. That is the date he died in a Las Vegas hospital following a six-week battle trying to recover from injuries incurred in a motorcycle accident on a remote desert road as he drove home from Las Vegas following a visit with old neighbors.

MISSED THE DATE, BUT STILL REMEMBER...
This year that date got swept up in holiday preparations and I missed it, so, tonight as we head for Christmas this week, I pause to, once again, remember my friend. If you wish, you can read what I wrote about him last year, HERE.